Woman pleads guilty to child abuse

A former Holloman woman on Monday pleaded guilty in United States District Court to child abuse related to the death of her daughter in 2007.

According to Elizabeth Martinez, spokeswoman for the United States Attorney's Office, Sophia Monique Zayas, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse resulting in great bodily injury.

Authorities from the FBI and United States Air Force arrested Zayas and her husband, Peter John Zayas, 29, in April of 2012, alleging that between Oct. 21 and 22, 2007, they caused the death of their two-month old daughter, Martinez said in the release.

In November 2012, a federal grand jury indicted Peter and Sophia Zayas with second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and other child abuse-related offenses, Martinez said in the release.

During the time of the alleged abuse, Peter Zayas was a sergeant in the United States Air Force and stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, Martinez wrote in the release.

On Monday, Sophia Zayas pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and admitted that her daughter suffered fractures to her skull, ribs and arms, Martinez wrote in the release.

Peter Zayas pleaded guilty earlier this month to negligent child abuse. He admitted that there was forseeable risk in leaving the child with his wife knowing that she had a history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking heavily the week the child died, Martinez wrote in the release.

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Both Peter and Sophia Zayas have been in federal custody since their arrests and remained jailed pending their sentencing, Martinez wrote in the release.

U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Yarbrough said the circumstances leading to the child's death are tragic.

"A two-month old baby died as a result of physical abuse and neglect," Yarbrough said. "Last week, Peter John Zayas admitted his negligence contributed to the baby's death at the hands of his wife and the baby's mother. Today, Sophia Monique Zayas admitted causing great bodily harm to the baby. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for ensuring that this baby's death did not go unanswered."